Abstract

Explosive volcanoes can inject large quantities of gases and particles into the stratosphere. These events can have important impacts on the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide can be oxidized to produce sulfuric acid aerosols. The radiative effects of these particles can change the temperature of the stratosphere and hence the rates of the reactions that control ozone chemistry, as well as directly affecting climate. Volcanoes can also inject chlorine, in the form of HCl, directly into the stratosphere. Aerosol particles can serve as sites for heterogeneous chemical reactions releasing chlorine from temporary nonreactive reservoir species to free chlorine which can catalytically destroy ozone. Thus volcanic effects can have serious consequences for the ozone layer (Brasseur et al., 1991).

© 1991 Optical Society of America